Apparatus for the electrolytic production of metallic shapes



Aug. 29, 1939.

V. L. TANNEHILL APPARATUS FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC PRODUCTION OF METALLIC SHAPES Filed March 5, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 23 j 39 1 i Z4 25 6 2445 I,

26 26 2? k 7 K d 27 7 (I I i 0 v i v K QW'ZZZ Aug. 29, 1939. v. L. TANNEHILL APPARATUS FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC PRODUCTION OF METALLIC SHAPES Filed March 5, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 29, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC PRO- DUCTION OF METALLIC SHAPES Application March 5, 1937, Serial No. 129,230

I 4 Claims.

This invention relates to electrolytic production of metallic shapes and apparatus therefor. An object of the invention is to manufacture economically various thin metallic shapes of excellent quality.

Another object is to obviate wastes of metal that occur in the ordinary practice of punching out voids and trimming away portions of metal sheets to form the shapes desired.

ill And another object is the production of metallic shapes of desired design continuously and automatically. I

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following description. An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section, in more or less diagrammatical form, of apparatus embodying the invention for electrolytically producing metallic shapes; and

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, portions being in section.

The illustrative embodiment of the apparatus is of one preferable form and in some respects is similar to the electrolytic apparatus set forth in my previous application, Ser. No. 127,435, but difiers therefrom in other particulars in order to render the apparatus adaptable for production of individual shapes of thin sheet metal.

In the present instance, the apparatus emp y d P f r bly consists of a vat I having therein a stationary displacement member constituted of walls 2 and a false bottom 3 located so there is formed within the vat between the walls 2 and the adjacent side walls 4 and 5 and between the false bottom 3 and the bottom 6 of the vat a restricted raceway 1 adapted to be filled with an electrolytic solution. The top of the wall 5 4o terminates at a point-that lies in a plane lower than the walls 2 and 4 and constitutes an overflow brink 8, and a trough 9 is arranged on the exterior of the vat adjacent the brink so as to receive the overflow of electrolyte from the raceway. 4

The trough 9 has a drain pipe ID the lower end of which has connection with a charging vessel II that is adapted to hold a charge of chemicals, such for example, as copper sulphate. The

connection of the drain pipe with the vessel preferably is with the upper portion of the vessel. The lower part of the vessel II has connection with a'filter unit 12 by means of a pipe I3, and said filter has also connection with a heating unit 3 l4 by means of a pipe 15. The heater is connected with the intake port of a pump I6 by means of a pipe l1, and a discharge pipe I8 is connected with the outlet port of the pump l5 and is provided at its upper end with a discharge spout l9 that extends into the highest end of the 5 raceway I. Upon operation of the pump continuous circulation of the electrolyte is established through the raceway I, charging vessel ll, filter l2, and the heater l4. The electrolyte supplied by the pump into the highest end of the 10 raceway flows therethrough and passes out over the brink 8 at the opposite end of the raceway into the trough 9 from which it is returned by passing successively through the charging vessel, filter, heater and pump back into the raceway. 5 In this manner the electrolyte is caused to flow continuously in one direction throughout the length of the raceway. The displacement member in the vat has the function of restricting the raceway throughout its course in respect to its 20 electrolyte containing capacity, which insures rapid travel or flow of the electrolyte in a definite! 1y confined course in one direction during its passage through the raceway.

The particular construction of the charging 25 vessel, filter unit, heating unit and pump is immaterial as many commonly known appliances capable of performing their respective functions may be employed. The charging vessel I l is provided with a removable cover I l' on its top where- 30 by to permit charging of the vessel with chemicals when required. The filter unit I2 is of such suitable character that the electrolyte in passing therethrough is clarified. The heating unit I is of such suitable character that the tempera- 35 ture of the electrolyte upon passing therethrough is raised to a desired temperature. And, the pump I6 is operated by means of any suitable source of power (not shown).

A cavity is made in the bottom 6 of the tank 40 that constitutes a sump 20, and there is provided a hand valve-controlled pipe connection 2| between said sump and the pipe ll whereby to permit withdrawal of any accumulation of sediment from the sump and convey it to the filter 45 element.

A conveyer is provided that is so arranged as to travel through the-raceway I and has support by any suitable means (not shown) at points located above the vat. Such conveyer preferably consists of shafts 22 and 23 located respectively above the inlet and outlet ends of the raceway suitably distant therefrom. Upon the ends of each of saidshafts is mounted a corresponding wheel 24 having peripheral spaced spro'ckets25.

The wheels 24 on one of said shafts are secured thereon so that when the shaft is revolved by any suitable source of power (not shown) the wheels attached to said shaft are accordingly rotated. Also, wheels 26 are mounted respectivelyupon the ends of shafts 21 located in the lower end of the vat.

Perforated endless conveyer belts 28 are arranged to be supported and guided by the corresponding wheels on said shafts and, when in operation, said belts travel continuously and precisely at the same speed into, through and out from the raceway 1. By means of the sprockets on the power-driven wheels that project through the perforations 29 in said belts, the travel of the belts throughout their course of movement is thereby synchronized.

In supported connection with the conveyer belts 28 are arranged a series of cathode members 30, having opposite exposed faces preferably disposed horizontally between the belts and connected at their ends respectively with the corresponding conveyer belts by trunnions 3|.

The cathode members 38 are preferably made of so-called stainless steel which has capacity for conducting electric current and possesses acid-resisting properties which is advantageous.

The particular shape of the individual cathode members is dependent upon the character and number of the shapes to be produced by electrolytic deposit of metal upon their exposed surfaces.

As illustrated in Fig. 2. the form of cathode members 30 are designed for the production of engine gaskets, such as those that are ordinarily clamped between the cylinder blocks and the block heads of engines to effect tight joints therebetween. Each cathode preferably consists of a thin metallic plate 30 having opposite faces and dimensions somewhat of greater area than that of the gaskets to be produced. Upon the opposite faces 32 of each cathode is applied on selected areas thereof insulating coatings 33 and 34 of a suitable character to prevent deposit of metal upon the areas covered thereby, and leaving exposed other areas 35 that conform to the pattern or design of the gasket to be produced. Thus, during the plating operation the electrolytic deposit of metal on the cathodes is confined to the exposed areas.

The insulating coating applied to the surfaces of the cathodes is selective and may be of any suitable material such as asphaltum, rubber composition, gutta percha, or other acid resisting substances capable of preventing electrolytic deposit of metal upon the surfaces of the cathodes so covered.

Arranged in electrical connection with each of the cathodes 30 is a current conducting strip 36 which preferably is located adjacent the inner edge of one of the conveyer belts 28 between the belt and corresponding ends of the cathodes and attached to the trunnion 3| of each cathode adjacent said belt.

Within each upper end of the raceway are corresponding pairs of anodes 31 that are suspended from current conducting rods 38 conveniently supported upon the top of the vat. The anodes are so located as to become submerged in the electrolyte in the raceway when the raceway is filled therewith, preferably in positions adjacent the opposite faces of the cathodes approximately equi-distant therefrom. Thus, when the apparatus is in operation the conveyer causes the cathodes to travel through trical energy (not shown).

the electrolyte between the pairs of anodes, preferably in the direction indicated by the arrows 39 which is directly opposite to that of the flow of the electrolyte through the raceway as indicated by arrows 40.

Located between the top of the vat and the supporting wheels 24 is a housing 4| through which the cathode members pass downwardly and in said housing are arranged squeegee rollers 42 disposed in pairs and between which the cathodes pass and have operative relation therewith. Also, within said housing are rotatable brushes 43 arranged upon opposite sides of the cathodes that are actuated by any suitable means of power (not shown). The purpose of the squeegee rollers and the brush is to remove moisture and clean the cathodes before they enter the raceway.

Also, above the liquid inlet end of the raceway is located another housing 4l' through which the cathode members pass upwardly and in which housing are arranged other squeegee rollers 42' and brushes 43 between which the cathodes pass and have operative relation therewith. The purposes of the rollers 42 and brushes 43' is to clean and remove moisture from the metal shapes deposited upon the cathodes after passing from the raceway.

Receptacles 44 are suitably positioned above the housing 4| between which the cathodes pass as the conveyer moves. and above said receptacles are disposed Stripping members 45 that bear against the cathodes as they travel upwardly so that as the metallic shapes 46 deposited on the cathodes come into contact with the stripping members said shapes are thereby stripped from the cathodes, and accumulate in the receptacles 44 from which they are subsequently removed.

The anodes 31 and the cathode members are electrified respectively by current supplied by negative and positive conductors 4'! and 48 that have connection with any suitable source of elec- The anodes have contact with the negative conductor 41 through the medium of the conducting rods 38 which have connection with said conductor, and the cathodes have electrical connections with the positive conductor through the medium of the conducting strip 36 and a contact drag member 49 operatively associated therewith.

In the method of producing metallic shapes by the use of the structure above described, it is desirable that an electrolyte be supplied to the vat in suflicient quantity to fill the raceway to its overfiow as well as to completely fill the flow line including the charging vessel, filter, heater, pump and all of the piping through which is conducted the overflow from the brink back into the receiving end of the raceway, so that as the pump is operated there is established a continuous flow of the electrolyte through the raceway from its receiving end toward its overflow brink.

The character of the electrolyte employed preferably is such that is best suited to the particular kind of metal to be deposited.

As an example: For producing copper shapes such as engine gaskets, the electrolyte properly is composed of water, copper sulphate and sulphuric acid in suitable proportions, approximately such as to eachgallon are added one and three-quarter (1%) lbs. of copper sulphate and three and one-half (3 /2) ounces of sulphuric acid.

To this bath is introduced a prepared phenol sulphuric solution derived from combining in approximate proportions one and one-half (1 /2) gallons of water, eighteen and three-fourths (18%) lbs. of sulphuric acid and ten (10) lbs. of phenol. This compound of ingredients is then subjected to boiling temperature, generally protracted two to three hours or until the substance becomes brown in color. Thus is formed a homogeneous stock from which to replenish the bath, periodically, as its effectiveness in the bath becomes diminished. The quantity of the stock solution that is supplied initially to the bath is preferably at the rate of five and a third (5%) ounces to each gallon of the bath, and replenishments are made as required.

Operation thereof is added to completely fill the flow line through the charging vessel, filter, heater, pump and the piping related therewith. The pump is then set in motion whereupon circulation of the electrolyte through the raceway and flow line is established Also, the conveyer is set in motion by applying power to the supporting wheels 24 so as to cause the conveyer to travel through the raceway in the opposite direction with re- Spect to the flow of the electrolyte therethrough induced by the pump. By means of the heater, the electrolyte as it passes therethrough is automatically maintained preferably at a temp ture between I05 and H0 degrees Fahrenheit as it has been found that such temperature is advantageous both as to quality and rate of electrolytic deposit of the metal on the cathodes. Due to thedisplacement member the electrolytic'body is confined to within close proximity to the oathodes and anodes, and also, the .fiow of the electrolyte thus confined is accentuated which contributes materially to uniformity, smoothness and density of the metallic deposit. By confining the electrolyte in the vat to the restricted space afforded bythe raceway the volume or the electrolyte is much less than that required when.

ordinary apparatus is employed.

When current is supplied to the anodes and to the cathodes as in the usual electrolytic plating process, copper is deposited upon the exposed areas of the. cathodes and not upon the insulated ar as thereof. Duringthis operation, .which is continuous, the phenol sulphuric radical contained in the bath slowly becomes broken down by the electric current, leaving in the bath an active agent that contributes materially to the smoothness anddensity of the metallic deposit on the cathodes. Also, because of the arrangement whereby the electrolytic body is confined closely in proximity to the cathodes and is made to fiow rapidly through the restricted raceway directlyopposite to the travel of the cathodes, the quality, smoothness and density of the metallic deposition on the cathodes and the production capacity of the appliance are greatly enhanced.

Confining the electrolyte in the vat afforded by the restricted raceway and the arrangement whereby the travel of the cathodesand the flow of the electrolyte through the raceway are in opposite directions insures considerable relative movementwith respect to the cathodes and electrolyte and consequent excellence of the metallic shapes produced.

- particular manner all of which contribute to the production of the metallic shape of metal gaskets, the invention in each respect is susceptible to variations and substitutions dependent upon the metallic character and design of the shapes to be produced. Instead of engine gaskets set forth as an example of a product of the inventiona great variety of shapes and designs may equally well be produced. This may readily be accomplished by variations of the arrangement of the insulating covering, on the surfaces of the cathode plates, and also the exposed areas of the oathode plates may be engraved or made irregular by which the deposited shapes, when removed, would bear the design of the engraving or irregularity on the exposed area of the cathodes.

What I claim is: 1. Electrolytic apparatus for the production of metallic shapes, said apparatus consisting of a vat containing anodes and an electrolyte, a conveyer constituted of endless belts spaced apart provided with wheels located at points suitably distant above the vat for supporting and driving said belts at equal speed, said conveyer extending into said vat, a series of individual cathodes arranged in supported relation with said belts, said cathodes being constituted of metallic plates having opposite faces certain areas of which have thereon coatings of insulating material and other exposed areas thereof conforming to a definite selected pattern and adapted to receive thereon electrolytic deposits of metal whereby to form corresponding metallic shapes, members arranged to engage and strip said shapes after being formed from said cathodes, a continuous contact strip having electrical connection with each cathode, a contactor operably associated with said strip, and electrified conductors connected respectively with said contactor and anodes.

2. Apparatus for producing thin metallic shapes, said apparatus consisting of an endless conveyer, individual cathodes carried by said con-1 veyer, said cathodes being constituted of metallic plates having opposite faces certain areas of which have coated thereon an insulating substance and other exposed areas that conform to a definite selected pattern and are adapted to receive thereon electrolytic deposits of metal whereby to form separate corresponding metallic shapes, 9. vat containing anode and electrolytic elements, into which said cathodes travel upon operation of said conveyer, electrical means for energizing said anodes and cathodes, and members arranged to automatically strip said shapes from the cathodes after having formed thereon.

3. Apparatus for producing thin metallic shapes, said apparatus consisting of a vat having a restricted raceway containing an electrolyte,

means to circulate said electrolyte through said raceway so as to fiow in one direction, aconveyer extending through said raceway and having means in connection therewith to cause said conconveyer so as to move into, through and out from said raceway upon operation of said conveyer, said cathodes having opposite faces certain areas thereof coated with an insulating sub-.

stance and other areas of a selected pattern-exposed so as to receive thereon electrolytic deposits of metal whereby to form separate corresponding metallic shapes, a contacting strip having connection with each of said cathodes, anodes disposed in said raceway, electrical means for energizing said anodes and contacting strip, and members arranged to engage and strip said shape from the cathodes after having formed thereon.

4. Apparatus for producing thin metallic shapes, said apparatus consisting of a vat containing anode and electrolyte elements, a conveyer having means in connection therewith for actuating it arranged so that a portion thereof VERNON L. TANNEHILL. 

